The U.S. Army on Sunday announced that search teams had recovered the body of a soldier who went missing near a cliff during a military training exercise in Cap Draa.
According to the Army, Moroccan rescue personnel found the soldier’s body in the water on Saturday, less than a mile from the location where he disappeared on May 2.
The deceased soldier was identified as Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a first lieutenant who served as a platoon leader in an artillery unit.
Earlier reports by Business Insider Africa stated that two U.S. service members taking part in the African Lion military exercises went missing near Tan-Tan, prompting a major search-and-rescue mission involving United States Africa Command and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces.
Search efforts are still underway to locate the second U.S. soldier who remains missing.
The African Lion exercise, coordinated by United States Africa Command, is regarded as the largest annual joint military exercise in Africa and aims to improve cooperation among U.S. forces, NATO allies and African partner countries.
This year’s drills, which began on April 27 and end on May 8, are being hosted in Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia.
Morocco is hosting the largest portion of the exercise, with about 5,000 troops from more than 40 countries participating. The operations are focused on joint military coordination, crisis response and strengthening regional and international security preparedness.